The Pennants Are Flying, As Is The Trash, And Apparently There Is A Team In Houston

[Gone_Phishin]

It's that time of year again: the smells, the sounds, and fat guys eating brats like there is an imminent pork shortage.

 

Let's hear your predictions, fantasy talk, hot stove, etc.

 

Play ball!

[MCS]

Howard is looking good so far, heard Miggy hit a 3 run shot for the tigers. feeling good on my draft so far.

 

My head to head league is down one team and yet to set a draft date. It is an auto which can be fun, a scramble in the days after to pick up the under valued or overlooked wavier claims.

 

It is strange seeing houston in the american league, but atleast KC will have to work to finish last in the central. LOL

[flyfisher]

Being a phillies fan i am obviously excited at spring training results for howard and brown but trying to be cautiously optimistic at the same time.

 

Apparently Wally joiner has been helping them both out and we are seeing the results.  What is nice to see for me is i think howard has only struck out 3-4 times in 9-10 games. 

 

I am most curious to see what hte nationals do.  THey hd a great season last year but i wonder if the career years many players had will be able to be repeated and how their season ended was ridiculous and i don'tcare what hte experts say, that type of choke weighs on you in the offseason.

 

Braves also look to be very good.  NL east is going ot be very competitive and very split, i could seee the best and worse records in baseball coming out of the division

[mrmacwvu1]

Worried about my Reds making Chapman a starter. From what I heard they are going to limit his innings like they did for Strausburg

[MCS]

Worried about my Reds making Chapman a starter. From what I heard they are going to limit his innings like they did for Strausburg

 

He was so deadly as a reliever but his wish is to start. It is scary, he throws so hard, more innings just means more chance to get injured.

[38 Super Fan]

Worried about my Reds making Chapman a starter. From what I heard they are going to limit his innings like they did for Strausburg

Yep, the Reds have had me worried a lot, going all the way back to game 3 of the NLDS. Really the only positive I can see is that they finally got rid of useless Drew Stubbs.  

[deaknh03]

Worried about my Reds making Chapman a starter. From what I heard they are going to limit his innings like they did for Strausburg

please see Daniel Bard.

[Gone_Phishin]

Who does everyone have on their bounce back list? I am hoping to pick up Hosmer on the cheap...maybe Haren and Ike Davis too.

[MCS]

Who does everyone have on their bounce back list? I am hoping to pick up Hosmer on the cheap...maybe Haren and Ike Davis too.

Agree with Davis, I got Howard and he is going low. Haren I don't know he is still missing some MPH on his heater. I think Halladay and lincecum comeback strong and so does everyone else.

[MCS]

Anybody got brain Roberts pegged lmao

Just retire for crying out loud markakis isn't looking so healthy either

[flyfisher]

I still cannot believe we are only a few weeks away from opening day. I will say I am irritated about this whole interleague play pretty much all the time and that the phillies home opener is against the royals.

[MCS]

I still cannot believe we are only a few weeks away from opening day. I will say I am irritated about this whole interleague play pretty much all the time and that the phillies home opener is against the royals.

Yeah stupid inter league lol sorta used to it but how weird is it to have Houston in the AL???

[38 Super Fan]

I can't believe opening day will be an interleague game, Reds vs Angels. MLB is just like the NFL, the game gets a little worse every year.

[flyfisher]

I don't like interleague play at all. I think it is dumb and I miss that the only time the two leagues play is all star and World Series. It is also kind of dumb that the all star game determines who has home field in the series but it is better than alternating every year. And while I am ranting.....go back to 4 divisions with division winners only making the playoffs.

Yeah yeah yeah, I know it makes the season exciting but I also don't think it's fair that a team can win the division then lose in a 5 game series.....all series should be 7 games.

[38 Super Fan]

Totally agree...kill Interleague, the DH, the absurd All Star Game home field advantage rule, and the Wild Cards, and you'll have a far better product.

[Gone_Phishin]

Agree with Davis, I got Howard and he is going low. Haren I don't know he is still missing some MPH on his heater. I think Halladay and lincecum comeback strong and so does everyone else.

 

Haren definitley is, though he is up a few MPH from last year.

 

Anybody got brain Roberts pegged lmao

Just retire for crying out loud markakis isn't looking so healthy either

 

Ha!  I guess he just had another setback as well.

 

I can't believe opening day will be an interleague game, Reds vs Angels. MLB is just like the NFL, the game gets a little worse every year.

 

I couldn't agree more.

[Gone_Phishin]

Has anyone heard anything about Bautista, as far as his health is concerned?  Is he 100% from the wrist injury from last year?

 

For those playing fantasy baseball, who are you reaching for come draft day?

[MCS]

Has anyone heard anything about Bautista, as far as his health is concerned?  Is he 100% from the wrist injury from last year?

 

For those playing fantasy baseball, who are you reaching for come draft day?

 

Dunno about Bautista. I wouldn't do it, wrist can affect the power production too much.

 

I never tend to reach for anyone, most of the players I watch and like aren't near the top teir lol, I am all about finding deals in returning players from injuries or down years, or breakout rookies/players. Beachy, Chen, Medlen, Chapman, Headley did it for me last year. When I draft I tend to draft best available for the first few rounds targeting players that aren't injury risks, consistent and not on the yankees/major d-bags, and for pitchers I go with health, Innings pitched, K's, whip and era as major paramaters.

[Gone_Phishin]

Dunno about Bautista. I wouldn't do it, wrist can affect the power production too much.

 

I never tend to reach for anyone, most of the players I watch and like aren't near the top teir lol, I am all about finding deals in returning players from injuries or down years, or breakout rookies/players. Beachy, Chen, Medlen, Chapman, Headley did it for me last year. When I draft I tend to draft best available for the first few rounds targeting players that aren't injury risks, consistent and not on the yankees/major d-bags, and for pitchers I go with health, Innings pitched, K's, whip and era as major paramaters.

 

Yea, that could be a nightmare.

 

If I reach for anyone this year, it may be Prado...simply because he is eligible at SS.

[flyfisher]

With baseball being such a long season fantasy is always a crap shoot early. Then you throw in notoriously slow starters like a Howard and then players coming off injury and you have your hands full. Bautista is intriguing though because the team got better so he may see some more pitches to hit but only time will tell.

Opening day cannot come soon enough.

[MCS]

With baseball being such a long season fantasy is always a crap shoot early. Then you throw in notoriously slow starters like a Howard and then players coming off injury and you have your hands full. Bautista is intriguing though because the team got better so he may see some more pitches to hit but only time will tell. Opening day cannot come soon enough.

So what do you think about brown so far huh? Hope he didnt blow his wad too early and keep this up into the regular season. But so far so good he is living up to his word this would be his year to show what he is about.

[flyfisher]

So what do you think about brown so far huh? Hope he didnt blow his wad too early and keep this up into the regular season. But so far so good he is living up to his word this would be his year to show what he is about.

Brown has had good springs in the past but he seems to have shortened his swing up a bit which is helping him out. He really needs to do it this years this is his 3rd or 4th spring training and the phillies outfield spots are wide open other than revere in center. He is one of those shake your head guys though because he has the talent to be an all star caliber player but just hasn't done it in the bigs yet.

I am trying real hard not to get to excited but this team feels different. It is the first time utley is healthy and in spring training since 2009, Howard is playing extremely well and there are some young guys doing a good job too. Halladay is scaring me somewhat but with Hamels and lee pitching well I am not that concerned, especially with Kendrick progressing very nicely. The bullpen has been shored up as well so hopefully they don't blow 20+ leads again this year.

My comeback player is going to be Howard though. He is going to sneak up on people who think he is washed up and I wouldn't be shocked one bit if he cracks 40+ homers this year to go along with his normal 130+rbis

[MCS]

Deffinitely think Howard will show he is the Howard of old, now the real ? Is can utley do anything without breaking down. Speaking of breaking, Roberts for the O's has had a good spring they are gonna play him 3 days in a row lol see if that can't do him in.

[flyfisher]

You know I am not super concerned about utley honestly. He plays hard every play and is a great offensive player but his defense has declined a lot over the past 3 seasons or so. That kid galvis is amazing in the field and producing offensively so far so if they can limit utleys games and keep him healthy longer without losing to much pop at the plate it will all work out. I also think utley is in the last year of his deal so who knows what that means but I do know it will be tough for me to see him play anywhere else....

I am intrigued by the o's this season too. I would love to see them win the division help to keep the stankees down as many years as possible.

[MCS]

Well my first injury of the year, Henley down before we even got started. My backup was the base thief on the pads can't recall his name shouldn't be too much of a hit. My head to head draft is Sunday. Any last minutes recommendations lol I pretty much know what I am gonna do.